The Blue Badge scheme provides a national range of parking concessions for disabled people with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport - it is designed to help severely disabled people to travel independently, as either a driver or passenger, by allowing them to park close to their destination.

Applying for a Blue Badge

The application process can be tracked online, and includes questions to check your eligibility for a Blue Badge. All badges are issued by the council and cost £10 to cover administration and production.

How to collect your Blue Badge

We no longer send Blue Badges out by post due to problems encountered with postage and to remove the risk of fraudulent applications being processed.

We contact applicants to let them know that their Blue Badge is ready for collection - please ensure that you provide us with a daytime telephone number.

Applicants will need proof of identification (birth certificate, passport or driving licence) to be able to collect their Blue Badge from Portsmouth Shopmobility, 56 Arundel St, Portsmouth, PO1 1NL.

Blue Badge independent mobility assessments

If you do not meet the automatic qualification criteria when you apply for a Blue Badge, you will need to attend an independent mobility assessment (IMA) at the Frank Sorrell Centre, Prince Albert Road, Southsea, PO4 9HR.

Applicants will will be contacted to arrange an appointment when their application has been processed.

Disabled parking bays

Portsmouth City Council is also responsible for issuing and enforcing disabled parking bays. Disabled parking bays are not reserved for the sole use of an individual and may be used by any Blue Badge holder.

Disabled parking bays feature a sign next to them (on a wall, fence or post) which reads 'Disabled badge holders only'. It is a requirement to display a valid Blue Badge at all times whilst parked in an enforceable disabled parking bay.

Any motorist found parked in a disabled bay without displaying a valid Blue Badge is liable to receive a Penalty Charge Notice.

Disabled bay holders may not be able to display a Blue Badge at all times whilst parked in their allocated bay - they can request a permit, specific to their vehicle and address, enabling them to park in their allocated bay without displaying a Blue Badge.

Permit request forms are automatically sent to bay holders upon the issue of a disabled parking bay and can also be requested by contacting us:

A fee of £18 is applicable for each permit, and an administration fee is also required for a change of vehicle, or for a lost or damaged permit.

A Traffic Regulation Order must legally be created for a new disabled parking bay before it can be installed. Portsmouth City Council will make every effort to deal with applications as quickly as possible, but due to the production and publication of Traffic Regulation Orders, an application will take a minimum of 3 months to process.

There is a £51.00 fee applicable prior to a bay being installed - if you can prove you are receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support this fee will not be charged.